Jackson Merrill is one swing from 25-25 with Padres’ Wild Card hopes on the line

The Padres need Jackson Merrill to stay competitive in September. And his Wednesday afternoon became much bigger than the way he dominated the box score. Merrill went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a triple and a career-high six RBIs as the Padres buried the Nationals, 9-2, and finished off a three-game sweep.

Petco Park set a heat record with a 95-degree first pitch. Merrill quickly made that detail feel like it didn’t matter at all. He finished one double short of the cycle, something nobody should lose sleep over because the Friars received everything they needed from him.

Jackson Merrill’s first 25-25 season is one home run away

Merrill’s second home run of the game gave him 24 this year, matching the career high he established during his rookie season. He already has a career-best 25 stolen bases. His next home run would give him the first 25-25 season of his career.

The milestone captures the version of Merrill the Padres need in a tight playoff race. He’s generating enough power to change a game instantly and enough speed to create trouble when the ball stays in the yard. The direction of Wednesday’s damage was impactful, too. Both home runs went to the opposite field, and the triple hammered the center-field wall. He wasn’t selling out to pull the ball into the seats. He was staying through the baseball and hitting it wherever it was pitched.

Pitchers can work around a hitter who is hunting a specific location. Merrill using the entire field takes away that escape route. We saw him do this in his rookie season, and we were seeing it again while the Nats were searching for somewhere safe to throw the ball.

He drove in six of San Diego’s nine runs Wednesday. The Padres can’t ask him to repeat that performance any given night. But they absolutely need his presence to make opposing pitchers uncomfortable. The Padres have more than just Merrill that gives the lineup star power. The 25th home run will make for a nice milestone. If these swings continue, it should arrive soon enough.

San Diego’s more urgent target is win No. 79. The cycle would have been fun. October would be better.

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